Opening times
May 19 - June 23, 2011
Readings start at 9.00 pm;
Gates open at 8.30 pm;
Tickets: from 7.00 pm.
Access is conditional on getting a free ticket, which must be picked up at the ticket booth. The ticket booth opens at 7.00 p.m.
Access to the site is possible from 8.30 p.m. At the ticket booth you can get up to 2 tickets per person on a first-come-first-serve basis. All tickets are valid only for the day for which they are issued. It is not possible to book online or by phone
Capacity: 2000 seats
PLEASE NOTE: In case of rain the event will be held in an alternative indoor location, which will be announced on the Festival website.
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Description
Tenth edition of the popular festival, 19 Italian and international writers, such as Stefano Benni, Gianrico Carofiglio, David Benioff, Giancarlo De Cataldo, Don De Lillo, Carlo Lucarelli, Michele Mari, Margaret Mazzantini, Michela Murgia, Jo Nesbø, Pavel Sanaev, Clara Sánchez, David Sedaris, Gary Shteyngart, Antonio Skarmeta, Wilbur Smith, Gay Talese, Sandro Veronesi, Xinran, will take turns reading their texts written specially for the occasion.
During the ten evening events, hosted in the evocative frame of the Basilica of Maxentius, the authors are invited to discuss and focus on a particular topic: History/Histories. The writers will read unpublished works, each from his/her own perspective, exploring the connections between literature and history and analyzing the possible relations between literary fiction and historical fact, imagined stories and real history.
The evening of June 16 will be dedicated to the five finalists of the 2011 Strega Book Prize.
Two special events are scheduled this year: the first, on the evening of June 9, sees Russian-American Jewish writer Gary Shteyngart and Pavel Sanaev paying tribute to Russian culture (in light of the Russia-Italy Cultural Exchange Year).The second event, on the final evening of the festival (June 23), will pay tribute to Elsa Morante, an icon of the twentieth century Italian literary tradition, whose works best represents the relationship between history and literature, real history and imagined stories, true historical facts and the truth of literature.
The Festival, organized and run by Casa delle Letterature in Roma, is presented by the Department of Cultural Affairs of the City of Rome. Organization and production are handled by Zètema Progetto Cultura.
This year’s authors are published by: Einaudi, Einaudi Stile Libero, Fandango, Feltrinelli, Garzanti, Guanda, Longanesi, Neri Pozza, Nottetempo, Mondadori, Rizzoli.
19 MAY
Sandro Veronesi
Don De Lillo
24 MAY
Gianrico Carofiglio
Gay Talese
26 MAY
Stefano Benni
David Sedaris
31 MAY
Margaret Mazzantini
David Benioff
7 JUNE
Giancarlo De Cataldo
Carlo Lucarelli
Jo Nesbø
9 JUNE
Gary Shteyngart
Pavel Sanaev
Ksenija Rappoport
14 JUNE
Michela Murgia
Clara Sánchez
Xinran
16 JUNE
Antonio Skarmeta
The five finalists of the 2011 Strega Book Prize
21 JUNE
Michele Mari
Wilbur Smith
23 JUNE
An evening dedicated to Elsa Morante
Laura Morante
Carlo Cecchi
